Huckleberries: ‘Dante’s Peak & Jeff

Many of you know Jeff Ward, of Coeur d’Alene, as the co-founder of the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans. Or as an aide to former Washington Congressman George Nethercutt. But 20 years ago this week, he and fellow actor Jhon Goodwin of Spokane were at Universal Studios attending the premiere of the only movie that Jeff has appeared in, “Dante’s Peak.” The stars of that otherwise forgettable movie were Pierce Brosnan (volcanologist Harry Dalton), Linda Hamilton (Mayor Rachel Wando) and the city of Wallace. Jeff earned one of the “principal” roles after answering a casting call for extras in Coeur d’Alene in the spring of 1996. Jeff was cast as Jack Collins, a pharmacist and city council member of a town that would be destroyed by a nearby volcano. He had a one-word line that was left on the cutting room floor: “Rachel!” But for his efforts, he was treated well, with a dressing room in a trailer, his name on the door, catered food, and legendary actors to hang with. He spent about two weeks on the set and appears in three scenes. He received a warm hug from actress Hamilton after his last scene, Screen Actors’ Guild pay – and still gets a small, annual residual for the movie. What does he think of the movie? Not much. And he believes the other actors felt the same way/ DFO , Wednesday Huckleberries. More here .